Saudi Arabian universities have announced scores of fully-funded scholarships for Pakistani students to pursue diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees in the kingdom.
A statement from the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia indicated that both students residing in Pakistan and legal residents in the kingdom are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
Procedure to Apply for the Scholarship
- Application Submission: Students must apply directly through the university’s website or online portal.
- Eligibility Criteria and Time Frames: Each university has its own eligibility requirements and application deadlines. Students should consult the respective university websites for specific details.
- Available Disciplines: Scholarships are available for nearly all disciplines, including Political Science, Law, Education, Administration, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, Agriculture, Arabic/Islamic Studies, and Media Sciences.
- Degree Levels: Scholarships are offered for diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels.
- Participating Universities: Scholarships are available from 25 universities in Saudi Arabia (listed in Annex-A).
- Enrollment Limits: Each university can enroll only 5% of international students, with exceptions for Princess Noora Binte Abdul Rehman University for Girls, Riyadh (8% of seats), and Jamia Islamia Madina Munawara (85% of seats).
- Application Forwarding: Universities will forward applications to the Saudi Ministry of Education, which will make the final decision on awarding scholarships.
- Embassy Involvement: Applicants should email a copy of their submitted application to the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh at Parepriyadh@mofa.gov.pk. The Embassy will then follow up with the Saudi Ministry of Education regarding the scholarships.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Applicants must be Pakistani or nationals of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
- Residency: 75% of the scholarships will be awarded to students from Pakistan, while 25% will be given to Pakistani students residing in Saudi Arabia.
- Gender: Both men and women are eligible to apply.
- Age Requirements:
- Bachelor’s program: 17 to 25 years old
- Master’s program: Up to 30 years old
- PhD program: Up to 35 years old
- Commencement: Selected applicants will start their programs in September/October each year.
- Other Conditions:
- Applicants must not hold any other scholarship at the time of availing the Saudi scholarship.
- Applicants must not have a criminal record.
- Applicants must not have been suspended from any educational institution for disciplinary reasons or other valid grounds.
Benefits of the Scholarship
- Accommodation: Free lodging provided.
- Allowance for Married Scholars: A three-month furnishing allowance upon arrival in KSA.
- Travel: Return air tickets included.
- Medical: Free medical coverage for the student and their family (if married).
- Graduation Allowance: A three-month allowance for the shipment of books upon graduation.
- Meals: Subsidized meals on campus.
- Recreation: Access to sports and recreational activities on campus, support for dependents, and travel expenses.
- Monthly Allowance:
- Science students: 900 Saudi Riyal (SR)
- Humanities students: 850 SR
